Published 30 Jul 2025
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4 min read
What is a Restaurant SOP Template?
A restaurant SOP template is a ready-to-use document that outlines the procedures to be followed in restaurant operations. This is typically used by restaurant owners, managers, and employees to ensure compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Often, a restaurant SOP template comes in the form of a checklist.
Importance of Having Restaurant SOPs
The purpose of having SOP s, or Standard Operating Procedures in full form, is to explain how to do certain tasks in line with specific rules and regulations. In a restaurant, SOPs are in place to ensure the safety of food, the cleanliness of the kitchen and dining area, and the quality of customer service provided. When everyone in a restaurant knows the SOPs in place, it becomes easier to comply with laws and regulations as all employees would need to do is follow them.
Having restaurant SOPs not only simplifies compliance but also improves communication between employees. A restaurant SOP template specifically allows employees to know their duties directly by presenting them in a clear and concise manner. This way, each employee knows what to do and how to report any anomalies on the job based on it.
What Should a Restaurant SOP Template Include?
While each restaurant may work differently depending on its target market and its style, a restaurant SOP format is similar throughout. What is important is that each restaurant’s SOP template follows the regulations set by the management and the laws of the land.
Usually, a restaurant SOP template will include sections, provisions, or questions on the following:
Customer service
Restroom operations
Music and ambiance
Restaurant temperature
Kitchen and dining area cleanliness
Bar orderliness, if applicable
In other cases, a restaurant SOP template can prompt managers and employees to examine their surroundings and practices better. This can include sections on analyzing the quality of food and drinks, the kind of music played and its volume, and the uniforms worn by staff.
A restaurant SOP checklist can be used anytime during a restaurant’s operations. Some may choose to use it before cooking and cleaning, while others prefer to use it as they go along instead. For others, a restaurant SOP checklist is instead used at the end of tasks to verify the quality and order of their tasks.
How to Write SOPs for Restaurants
When starting to build an SOP for a restaurant, multiple factors should be considered such as the tasks involved, and who should be implementing them. Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating your very own restaurant SOP format:
State the purpose and scope – Clearly define why this particular SOP is important. Also, specify in which areas of the restaurant this SOP applies to.
Add a clear title to the procedure – Creating a title for each procedure makes it easier for team members to look for them as necessary.
List materials needed – If equipment is necessary for the procedure, enumerate them as well to make sure that nothing is missed.
Specify safety guidelines – State if there are any safety precautions or safety standards that must be followed for the task.
Be clear and concise – Avoid using complicated jargon, use simple language to make sure that all employees, regardless of experience level, understand the step-by-step SOP.
Add visuals – To make SOPs easier to follow, you also have the option of including visual elements such as photos and diagrams, or videos for SOPs created in a digital format.
Involve employees in the process – Engage your staff in creating SOPs to ensure accuracy and feasibility. Their hands-on experience can help identify potential challenges and improve procedures.
Restaurant SOP Example
This is an example of a restaurant’s SOP for table setup:
Title : Table Setup Procedure
Objective : To ensure that all tables are set according to restaurant standards before opening.
Responsible Personnel : Server team
Materials/Tools Required : Clean tablecloth, cutlery, napkins, glassware, centerpieces
Procedure :
Lay the clean tablecloth neatly on the table, ensuring no wrinkles.
Place one set of cutlery (fork, knife, spoon) per seat, with each piece spaced evenly.
Position the napkin on the left side of the fork.
Set a water glass above the knife and a wine glass next to it.
Place the centerpiece in the middle of the table, ensuring it doesn’t block guest view.
Safety Guidelines : Handle all cutlery and glassware by the stem or handle to maintain hygiene.
This SOP example meanwhile, is in a YES or NO format. To give a visual representation of what a completed SOP report looks like, here’s a sample report of standard operating procedures for restaurants in a PDF format:
As they scaled, the SafetyCulture platform helped digitize their brand standards, enabling them to consistently uphold health, safety, and quality across their busy daily restaurant operations. This resulted in $70,000 in annual stock loss savings. As they scaled, the SafetyCulture platform helped digitize their brand standards, enabling them to consistently uphold health, safety, and quality across their busy daily restaurant operations. This resulted in $70,000 in annual stock loss savings.
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